The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Office of Addictive Disease oversees nine recovery support clubhouses for youth and adolescents ages 13 to 17 years with substance use challenges. The clubhouses utilize a comprehensive substance use recovery support model designed to engage adolescents and their families in their recovery. The clubhouses are supportive environments where consumers are members. Staff and members work together to perform the jobs of the clubhouse and participate in a variety of activities and services such as social outings, educational and employment supports, transitional services, and other specific clubhouse activities.

The Center of Excellence for Children’s Behavioral Health works with DBHDD’s Office of Addictive Disease as a program partner to evaluate effectiveness of the model and monitor youth outcomes using a mixed methods approach. The evaluation supports reporting to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and contributions to the literature and field of adolescent substance use recovery. Additionally, the center provides financing and policy research, training and implementation support, and peer learning and strategic planning that supports continuous quality improvement to enhance service delivery to youth and their families.

Behavioral Health

Research & Evaluation